Zook Fired. Following a legendary coach

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Zook Fired. Following a legendary coach

can be a tough task. Even though some may say Spurrier was in his own eyes anyway! Coach Schnell just laid out a very tough trail to follow!

I'm posting this one here because I wanted some opinions on loyalty. Can you imagine when the next coach takes over for Coach Schnell here at FAU? What do you guys think about the pressure and how the Alumni will react to anything that's not "deemed acceptable" losses?

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Zook Fired. Following a legendary coach

It can be tough to follow a coach that is well liked and had great success at a program, but I think it's a situation that differs from program to program, some seem to make an easier transition then others.

Miami is one of those that seems to get one after the other, sure some where not as good or effective, but still managed to keep the program going.

Following Schnell will be a tough act to follow, but depending on where the program is at the time and the type of/or the quality of a coach we can attract will depend on how the transition goes. I would like to think that Schnell would have some say as to who replaces him, yet that doesn't make it any easier.

Zook had a totally different philosophy then Spurrier which did not allow as smooth of a transition, but then again who knows. Spurrier also had a different way of motivating players. Players sometimes react differently to different approaches.

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Zook Fired. Following a legendary coach

honestly I doubt it... everyone I talk to seems to love working with this orginization... which would you rather look at a full grown tree just sitting there or a seed sprouting out of the ground. Its alot of fun watching this team develop espcially since there is so much potential for greatness...

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Zook Fired. Following a legendary coach

Zook is not at fault for all of the Gators' problems. Spurrier got out when the getting was good. If you look at his last two years, Florida was slipping. I remember one game in particular. The Citrus Bowl against Michigan State. Florida got spanked. The last few years that Spurrier was at Florida, the best they could do was go to the Citrus Bowl, a bowl that Spurrier himself criticized every time that Tennessee went there. Zook took over a program that was heading downhill. It is going to be a difficult ship to right no matter who is in charge.

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Zook Fired. Following a legendary coach

A program that was headed downhill? The only reason it was on the decline is because Zook was named coach. It's not like Spurrier left the Gators with no talent.

Zook has had two great recruiting classes, has one of the best quarterbacks in the country (who's only a sophomore!) and a defense that should be one of the best in the SEC.

Let's face it, Zook is a tremendous recruiter and a great No.2 guy. But you can't take someone who has no head coaching experience and just hand them the job at Florida - one of the elite programs in the country.

Plus, you can't go 0-6 in The Swamp against Top 25 teams and expect to keep your job.

President of the No Homers Club. Keepin' it real since 2001.

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Zook Fired. Following a legendary coach

I am not saying that Zook is not to blame for the problems at UF. I am saying however, that when Spurrier left the program was a notch below its normal standing. He hadn't won an SEC championship in a few years and the gators were relegated to the Citrus Bowl. This was an abrupt change from 1994-1997 when the gators were a serious powerhouse.

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Zook Fired. Following a legendary coach

Didn't Spurrier resign right after destroying No.6 Maryland in the Orange Bowl? And didn't the Gators wind up No.3 in the country that year? Yes they lost in the CItrus Bowl to Michigan… by 3 points in 1999.

I'm sorry, but the best Zook did was getting the Gators to the Outback Bowl twice, both losses.

Sure, Spurrier might not be the answer, but do you honestly think any so-called "up-and-coming" coach from the WAC or Pac 10 or any other conference would have better results immediately (which is the key word here) than the Ole Ball Coach himself? I don't think so.

President of the No Homers Club. Keepin' it real since 2001.

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Zook Fired. Following a legendary coach

honestly I doubt it… everyone I talk to seems to love working with this orginization… which would you rather look at a full grown tree just sitting there or a seed sprouting out of the ground. Its alot of fun watching this team develop espcially since there is so much potential for greatness…

The story of former Alfredo Roberts comes to mind. He did such an outstanding job with the TE's(Tony Crissinger) that Jack Del Rio pulled him away quickly to coach his WR's at JaX Jags. It also helped that they played together at Dallas ;)